Maryland Ocare Exchange Has A Net Loss

Remember how Maryland was supposed to be a model for how the new “Affordable” Care Act exchanges would work? Well, that was before their website turned out to be a complete failure. They’re now looking to use the Connecticut exchange software, after pissing away $125 million, which could cost another $30 million or more. Know what else failed?

(CNS News) The head of the Maryland Health Insurance Exchange testified Thursday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that only 60,000 people have signed up for Obamacare through the state’s exchange – 13,000 less than the number of individuals reported to lose their insurance due to Obamacare.

“According to our reports, according to AP, press accounts, 73,000 individuals in Maryland were going to lose their insurance because of the Affordable Care Act, and what you’re telling me is your revised goal is approximately the same number — 75,000. So your revised goal of people you’re gonna sign up is: We’re gonna sign up the people who were kicked off of the Affordable Care Act,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said.

So, there you go, a net loss of 13,000. Of course, the question is “how many said to hell with the Exchange and purchased insurance on their own?” If so, it’s interesting that so many did not want to go through the Exchange. But, then, the original goal was 150,000 “private” insurance signups through the Exchange originally.

In prepared written testimony, Joshua Sharfstein, chair of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, said, “We expect that by the time the dust settles, more than 290,000 Marylanders will have enrolled in coverage since January 1, including more than 60,000 Marylanders in qualified health plans and more than 230,000 Marylanders in Medicaid.”

Which should be equally as disturbing, since so many people are being moved to Government paid for and Government controlled plans, creating more entitlement.